Compare towns
Barton vs Rochester vs Brighton vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barton | Rochester | Brighton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,389Highest |
1,167 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Rochester and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Whiting and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
18.5% VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Brighton School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.